Historical Shift in Pathological Type of Progressive Massive Fibrosis Among Coal Miners in the USA

Details

• Personal Author:
  Abraham JL ; Almberg KS ; Clingerman S ; Cohen RA ; Cool CD ; Franko AD ; Go LHT ; Green FHY ; Hubbs, Ann F. ; Iwaniuk C ; Murray J ; Orandle MS ; Petsonk, Edward L. ; Richardson DL ; Rose CS ; Sanyal S ; Sarver EA ; Vorajee NI ; Zell-Baran LM
• Description:
  Background: Pneumoconiosis among coal miners in the USA has been resurgent over the past two decades, despite modern dust controls and regulatory standards. Previously published studies have suggested that respirable crystalline silica (RCS) is a contributor to this disease resurgence. However, evidence has been primarily indirect, in the form of radiographic features. Methods: We obtained lung tissue specimens and data from the National Coal Workers' Autopsy Study. We evaluated specimens for the presence of progressive massive fibrosis (PMF) and used histopathological classifications to type these specimens into coal-type, mixed-type and silica-type PMF. Rates of each were compared by birth cohort. Logistic regression was used to assess demographic and mining characteristics associated with silica-type PMF. Results: Of 322 cases found to have PMF, study pathologists characterised 138 (43%) as coal-type, 129 (40%) as mixed-type and 55 (17%) as silica-type PMF. Among earlier birth cohorts, coal-type and mixed-type PMF were more common than silica-type PMF, but their rates declined in later birth cohorts. In contrast, the rate of silica-type PMF did not decline in cases from more recent birth cohorts. More recent year of birth was significantly associated with silica-type PMF. Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate a shift in PMF types among US coal miners, from a predominance of coal- and mixed-type PMF to a more commonly encountered silica-type PMF. These results are further evidence of the prominent role of RCS in the pathogenesis of pneumoconiosis among contemporary US coal miners. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Coal Coal Mining Demography Dust Fibrosis Lung Mining Occupational Health Respiratory System Safety Silicon Dioxide

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• Keywords:
  Coal Miners Crystalline Silica Demographic Characteristics Dust Control Lung Tissue Pathogenesis Pneumoconiosis
• ISSN:
  1351-0711
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Colorado ; Illinois ; New York ; OSHA Region 2 ; OSHA Region 3 ; OSHA Region 5 ; OSHA Region 8 ; Virginia ; West Virginia
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  HELD - Health Effects Laboratory Division
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  425-430
• Volume:
  80
• Issue:
  8
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20067759
• Citation:
  Occup Environ Med 2023 Aug; 80(8):425-430
• Contact Point Address:
  Dr Leonard H T Go, Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Division, University of Illinois Chicago School of Public Health, Chicago, Illinois
• Email:
  lgo2@uic.edu
• CAS Registry Number:
  Quartz (SiO2) (CAS RN 14808-60-7)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2023
• NORA Priority Area:
  Manufacturing
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  Occupational and Environmental Medicine
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:122e8cd7b65d92c70e5865692183311e7868fba9a0acd88f0484aa9f78c1da8a1a95e9272a23fd2280f080b8a56f06e69cf377d525fe54b011a27355a1c56b89
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/230020/cdc_230020_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 963.47 KB ]